Over 100 House Democrats are urging the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to avoid cutting federal funding for crisis services aimed at LGBTQ youth. They argue that these cuts, part of a broader initiative by the Trump administration to eliminate what they deem unnecessary programs, are “inappropriate” and pose a danger.
Reports of internal budget documents surfaced last month, revealing plans to remove specialized services for LGBTQ youth accessing the 988 suicide and crisis hotline.
Any proposed cuts will need Congressional approval and won’t take effect until October.
Since launching in 2022, the 988 hotline has reportedly received about 1.3 million calls, texts, and online chats. In February, it registered an average of 2,100 crisis contacts daily.
“Stopping this essential support, especially when so many young people are suffering, risks destroying resources vital for some of our most vulnerable populations,” wrote the Democrats, led by Seth Moulton from Massachusetts and Raja Krishnamoorthi from Illinois. They described the potential consequences of cutting these services as severe, underscoring the importance of tailored support for at-risk youth.
The letter emphasized that all young people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, deserve the resources to prevent self-harm and suicide, calling for Kennedy to reverse the proposed cuts.
This appeal echoes a similar one made last week by seven Democratic senators, including Tammy Baldwin and Elizabeth Warren, who labeled the elimination of these services as reckless.
Lawmakers have drawn parallels between this program and other specialized support services for groups like veterans and individuals affected by disasters.
According to the senators, the intervention connects LGBTQ+ youth with crisis counselors trained to offer understanding and confidential support. They argued that while they oppose many of the Trump administration’s actions targeting LGBTQ+ individuals, suicide prevention should transcend political divides.
Republican lawmakers Mike Lawler from New York and Young Kim from California have also expressed concerns, stating that cutting the 988 specialized services would be a significant blow to necessary resources for high-risk youth.
“These vulnerable young people really need access to mental health care,” they stated.
Moulton mentioned he hopes that more Republicans will join Democrats in opposing the proposed cuts.
The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, established under the Biden administration, originally received funding boosts from Congress for its LGBTQ Youth Specialized Services, rising from $7.2 million for its initial pilot program to $33.1 million last year.
Jaymes Black, CEO of the Trevor Project — an organization focused on preventing suicide among LGBTQ youth — noted that they managed about half of the 988 calls and texts relating to this demographic.
A recent Trevor Project report indicated that 39% of LGBTQ individuals aged 13-24 considered suicide in the past year, with 46% of transgender and non-binary youth reporting similar thoughts. Additionally, many LGBTQ young people expressed difficulty accessing mental health care.
While Kennedy has not specifically addressed the concerns surrounding the cuts to the 988 program, he has defended broader budget reductions at HHS, asserting that over time, bureaucracies often become inefficient, despite the dedication of many civil servants.
An HHS spokesperson did not immediately respond to inquiries regarding funding for the 988 Specialist LGBTQ Youth Program.
